Health News

The overall fast food consumption of U.S. kids may be decreasing, according to a new study from researchers at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. For the study the researchers compared data collected as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. They found that in the 2003 survey, roughly 39 percent of kids in the U.S. reported eating fast food at least once a day.

There may be a link between the family income of a household and the brain structure of its children, according to a new study from researchers at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. For the study the researchers used MRIs to examine the brain structure of 1,100 children and also reviewed financial records from each child's home.

Drinking coffee regularly could help repair damage in the liver caused by drinking alcohol in excess, according to a new study from researchers at the World Cancer Research Fund. For the study the group reviewed data collected in 34 studies including more than eight million participants. For every cup of coffee consumed, there was a roughly 14 percent decreased chance of liver cancer.

A newly discovered gene could hold the key to a specific form of severe autism found in some girls, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Institute of Genetic Medicine. The gene, called CTNND2, is central in the creation of the protein delta-catenin, which plays a large role in the nervous system.

The FDA has issued its approval on a new drug aimed at treating the inhalation of anthrax. The new drug, called Anthrasil, is an antibacterial aimed specifically at anthrax and tested well in various clinical trials on animals. No human trials were conducted. Dr. Karen Midthun, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, released a statement about the new drug approval.

Those who live in areas with higher degrees of smog in the air could be more likely to suffer from anxiety, according to a new study from researchers at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore, Maryland. For the study the researchers examined health records from 70,000 women across the U.S. Women who lived in the most air-polluted urban centers in the country were more likely to suffer anxiety.

Those with the highest levels of overall fitness at midlife may be at a lower risk to develop cancer later in life, according to a new study published in the Journal of the America Heart Association. The link was especially strong for men, who showed decreases in lung and colorectal cancers. For the study the researchers reviewed health records of just under 14,000 men between 1971 and 2009.

Taking short naps during the daytime could help boost brain power, according to a new study from researchers at Germany's Saarland University. For the study the researchers enrolled 41 participants to engage in a cognition test. The subjects were shown 90 single words and 120 word pairs and were asked to learn all.

A rare form of heart attack known as spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) may be hereditary, according to a new study from researchers at the Mayo Clinic. This form of heart attack is most common in women and the researchers used data collected in their SCAD registry to detect possible familial ties with the condition.

The quantity of antibiotics being used in meats may be on the rise, according to a new study from researchers at Princeton. For the study the researchers reviewed the amounts of antibiotics purchased from drug makers specifically for the meat industry to keep pace with grown demand. The researchers found that 63,000 tons of antibiotics were given to livestock in 2010.

Many acne patients routinely fail to take prescribed medications for the condition, according to a new study from researchers at the Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. For the study the researchers examined the prescription usage of 143 acne patients. They found that 27 percent of the patients failed to obtain the medications that were prescribed as acne treatments.

Vitamin D supplements may slow or reverse the development of prostate cancer tumors, according to a new study from researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. For the study the researchers enrolled 37 men who elected to have their prostates removed because of low-grade tumors. Men who were given a Vitamin D supplement for at least 60 days showed some improvement.

Breastfeeding for an extended period of time can lead to an increase in intelligence, according to a new study. Published in Lancet, the study interviewed 5,914 new mothers about their plans for breastfeeding and then followed up to see how they did. Researchers said that subjects who had been breastfed for 12 months or longer had a higher IQ (about 3.7 points).

A law restricting the opening of new fast food chains in Los Angeles has failed to stop rising obesity rates in the area. The zoning ordinance, which was passed in 2008, covered a 32-square mile area of South Los Angeles. A study by the non-profit Rand Corp. found that rates of obesity increased in these areas despite the law.

Raw walnuts that were sold at Trader Joe's nationwide and Wegmans stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania have been recalled because they may be tainted with salmonella, according to the companies. Buffalo, New York-based First Source, LLC has recalled 3,276 plastic tubs of "Food You Feel Good About" Organic Walnut Halves & Pieces.